Student Goals

Dear Parents:

Together, our goal at Westgate is to assure that each child achieves success. We believe that you, as parents, play an important role in helping your child(ren) achieve the Westgate Student Goals.

We believe that the major role of parents in school discipline is to continually show interest in, and support for their child(ren) at school.

We want your child(ren) to meet the five goals that we have set at Westgate School. YOU play a key role in your child's success. Please review and discuss the five goals and school rules with your child(ren). Post them in a place where your child will see them often.

We believe in a fair and consistent code of discipline and good classroom management. Our goal is an environment where courtesy and kindness prevail, and where there is respect for differences of other people, customs and cultures. We will treat all children with courtesy and respect. When problems arise, we will work positively to find solutions. We will hold students accountable. We believe each student has the final responsibility for the consequences of his/her own behavior.

If your child should exhibit unacceptable behavior at school, you may be asked to help us teach your child an alternative set of behaviors. You may be asked to conference with us and/or support us in selecting appropriate consequences to modify this behavior.

If you want more information on our philosophy of discipline, or information on student rights and responsibilities, please contact the principal, Mr. Burleigh.

Sincerely,
The Westgate Staff

PHILOSOPHY

It is the commitment of the staff and parents of Westgate Elementary to provide its students with a positive, safe, and productive learning environment that fosters positive self-esteem, concern for others, responsibility and accountability, a broad knowledge base, proficiency in basic skills in higher order thinking skills, and self-directed learning. Students are expected to be courteous, cooperative, caring, use common sense, and demonstrate a commitment to learning.

We believe in a fair and consistent code of discipline and good classroom management. When problems arise, we will work positively to find solutions.

1. TEACHER AND STAFF RESPONSIBILITIES:

Each teacher and staff member is responsible to set and teach his or her students specific expectations for responsible and productive behavior in their classroom and the common areas of the school as well as take the appropriate steps or corrective actions to resolve problems when they occur. Actions which may be taken include, but are not restricted to, verbal reprimand, redirection (have the child do it the right way), classroom timeout. Parents will be immediately contacted if the student is not responding to the classroom discipline, detention (loss of recess), loss of classroom privileges, loss of recess, and school service work.

REMOVAL FROM CLASS:

If a student refuses to do work or is a disruption to the learning process, the teacher may send the student to the school office or buddy classroom for a short timeout period (five to ten minutes). The teacher will notify the office why the child is being removed from the class and how long he or she is to remain in the office.

2. PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

While most student behavior problems are expected to be resolved at an early stage, when a problem persists or is of a serious nature (disrespect or defiance towards adults, chronic defiance of school expectations or procedure(s), dangerous violation of school expectations or procedure(s), classroom disruption, hurting others, stealing, or damaging personal or school property) the student will be referred to the principal for disciplinary action.

The teacher or other staff member is to submit a written referral to the principal indicating the problem behavior and a summary of any previous corrective steps taken if the principal's assistance is requested.

The principal will review the student's discipline problem and previous corrective actions to determine the appropriate level of disciplinary action to be taken. Each step may be repeated as many times as deemed appropriate. Each time a student is referred to the principal his or her parents will be notified by a phone call.

At each level the student will complete a student problem solving form. One copy will be kept in the office and the other sent to the classroom teacher.

LEVEL OF CORRECTIVE ACTION:

Level 1: Behavior Consequence
Possible Consequences:
•Warning/Counseling
•Recess Detention
•Before/After School Detention
•School Service Work
•Denial of Privilege
•Restriction
•Behavior Contract
•Restitution

Level 2: Parent Conference & Behavior Consequence

Level 3: Staffing & Behavior Consequence

Level 4: Short Term Suspension (1/2 day - 3 days)
•In-School
•Home

Level 5: Long Term Suspension (3 days - +)
•In-School
•Home

Level 6: Expulsion (Police report required)

The initial level of corrective action for each particular violation will be as follows:

DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY: Students who damage school property or the property of others will be held accountable for its repair or replacement.
* Depends on severity

WESTGATE ELEMENTARY PLAYGROUND CONDUCT

1 Go directly out to the playground at recess unless special permission is given by your teacher to work in the computer lab or the library.
2 Stay on the playground, inside the areas designated by red lines. Permission is needed to leave the playground for any reason, including using the bathrooms or retrieving a ball over a fence.
3. Walk to and from the playground. Carry playground equipment when in line and leaving the playground. Line up promptly in areas as directed when bells ring. Teachers will establish procedures for returning to their classrooms.
4. Be polite and follow all directions of playground teachers. Use appropriate language at all times.
5. Show respect for others: take turns, play fair, discuss differences calmly, encourage less experienced players.
6. All games are open to anyone within your grade level willing to play the game and obey the rules. No games may be "locked". Follow rules of the games, and the safety procedures for playground apparatus. When playing on the bars, keep your hands on the bars at all times. No penny drops. Move a game that interferes with a game that is already being played.
7. Keep your hands and feet to yourself at all times. Spectators should not interfere with games, run relays and races rather than "play fighting" or tag.
8. All rocks, sticks, snowballs, or similar objects are to be left alone.
9. Toys from home are not allowed on the playground.

RAINY DAY RECESS

GOAL: Students will engage in quiet, cooperative activities in an atmosphere of respect and responsibility.

EXPECTATIONS:

STUDENTS:
1. Will remain in their classroom.
2. Will work quietly on one of the activities listed on the posted classroom list. If no list is posted, activities will be from the school list (floor and desk games, murals on sheets of paper, checkers and chess, coloring, word games, chalkboard activities, art or writing projects, reading, listening to a school provided tape, watching a video, quiet ball).
3. Will walk in the classroom.
4. Will get a bathroom pass, from an assistant. Students will wait inside the classroom door for an assistant to obtain a pass.

CONSEQUENCES:
1. Verbal warning.
2. Removal from the classroom to the hall.
3. Removal to the office.

ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE

GOAL: Students will arrive and leave school in a safe and respectful manner. They will exhibit responsible behavior. Staff and parents will assist in the safety of the students.

EXPECTATIONS:
STAFF: 1. Will walk all students to bus lines.
2. Will remain until most buses have loaded children and assist in maintaining appropriate behavior of students.
3. Will help students find their bus if they get out of class late.
4. Will dismiss students at 3:00 p.m.
PARENTS: 1. Will use sidewalks or designated walk area when picking up or dropping off students.
2. Will accompany their child to a safe walkway if dropping or picking up a child off at school.
3. Will review safe behavior with their children.
4. Will use the drive through or parking lot accordingly.
CONSEQUENCES:
1. Students will walk their bicycles on school grounds or designated areas.
2. Students will walk on sidewalks or designated areas.
3. Students will be responsible while waiting.
4. Redirection - for example, have the student go back and walk.
5. Delay the student briefly.
6. Assigned to wait on the benches until dismissed by an adult.
7. Escorted to bus or off the school grounds by an adult.
8. Loss of bike riding privileges.
9. Grade 3-6 student will bring a permission slip for riding a bicycle to school. Helmets are required.

ASSEMBLIES

GOALS: Students will display responsible and respectful behavior during assemblies. Their appropriate behavior will transfer to all public performance settings.
EXPECTATIONS:
ADULTS: Will monitor student behavior throughout the assembly. Teachers and adults will model Westgate Way Expectations giving full attention to performers/speakers.
Classrooms should arrive at appropriate time and be dismissed at appropriate time.
STUDENTS:
1. Will enter the gym quietly and sit in designated areas.
2. Will keep hands and feet to themselves.
3. Will watch for the signal, indicating a call to attention.
4. Will watch and listen to the performer.
5. Will respond appropriately at the right time.
6. Will follow their teacher's directions for dismissal.
CONSEQUENCES:
1. Verbal warning.
2. Moved next to an adult.
3. Removal
- to the foyer.
- to the office.

RESTROOM

GOAL: Students will use the restroom in a timely, respectful manner.

EXPECTATIONS:

STUDENTS:
1. Will follow their own classroom policies concerning restroom use.
2. Will act appropriately and go about their business in a timely manner.
3. Will follow good health practices.
4. Will report to their teacher any problems with supplies or restroom cleanliness.
5. Will use a pass provided by the playground assistants during recess.

CONSEQUENCES:
1. Verbal warning.
2. Restroom clean up of problems they have caused, with custodian supervision.
3. Monitored use of restroom.

HALLS AND WALKWAYS

GOALS: The halls and walkways will be a safe environment where people interact responsibly and respectfully.

EXPECTATIONS:

TEACHERS:
Will accompany all large groups and classrooms of students to and from destinations.
Will ensure that students are arriving at recess destinations quickly.

STUDENTS:
1. Will walk in a quiet, calm and respectful manner.
2. Will walk to one side of the hallways so that others may pass easily.
3. Will yield to other classes when necessary.
4. Will wait quietly in designated area before school each morning.
5. Will have permission to be in the halls and walkways.


CONSEQUENCES:
1. Verbal warning.
2. Redirection - i.e., have the student go back and walk.
3. Referral to the classroom teacher.
4. Referral to the office for repeated behaviors.

COMMON AREA: BUS

GOALS: For students to be standing in an orderly and safe fashion until seated on the bus.
If riding the bus, students will stay seated until bus comes to a complete stop.

RULES AND EXPECTATIONS:
1. Dismissal time is 3:00 p.m.
2. Staff will try their best to adhere to dismissal time for bus policy to work.
3. Students are to report to the line/stop designated for their bus only. No running back and forth between stops.
4. Students will not save spaces or cut in line.
5. Bus lines are to form a safe distance back from the curb.
6. Any student who must leave the line will reenter at the end of the line.
7. Students will keep hands and feet to self.
8. Students are to wait until the bus has come to a complete stop, the door has been opened and the bus driver has given permission for students to begin loading.
9. Any student who misses the bus must report to the office.
10. Students who create problems while waiting for the bus or on the bus may lose bus privileges at the discretion of the principal.
11. Students who miss the bus and need to use the phone to call home must ask a secretary for permission first. They need to use the phone on the counter in the office by the computer.
12. Students will exhibit respect and follow the directions of the student patrols.

CONSEQUENCES FOR INFRACTIONS: Follow Westgate Discipline Policy
1. Verbal warnings
2. Have student review and restate rule.
3. Send to end of line.
4. Office referral for chronic and severe misbehavior.

SUPERVISION RESPONSIBILITIES OF STAFF:
1. ALL STAFF are responsible for maintaining discipline policy.
2. To work for consistency in carrying out the plan.
3. The first week of school ALL STAFF will supervise and enforce rules and consequences.
4. Beginning the second week of school a rotating bus duty schedule will go into effect. 3:00-3:10 two staff members will be assigned to bus/parking lot duty on a rotating schedule. Constant monitoring (walking up and down the line) is suggested to ensure efficient supervision.
5. Each teacher will handle a designated area the entire time of their assignment, and these areas will change during the year to provide for fairness relative to extra time for late buses and car drop-off and pick-up area.
6. Each teacher assigned to bus duty must be accountable for being outside by 3:00 (taking own student with them). Another teacher must take your place if you cannot be out there. In case of absence, the substitute teacher needs to take the place of the teacher.